Interview

Mystery Surrounds North Korean Tunnel-building in Burma

By THE IRRAWADDY Tuesday, June 16, 2009

COMMENTS (7)

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There are numerous reports of such cooperation, and lots of rumors. But we have to wait for some firmer confirmation before we can draw any conclusions.

Q: In the past three years, North Korean ships have made mysterious visits to ports in Burma. We have established that North Korea has been providing conventional weaponry, including missiles, to the Naypyidaw regime. Since diplomatic relations were restored between North Korea and Burma in 2007 we have seen a flurry of official and unofficial visits by Burmese officials to the North Korean capital. How do you assess these visits and mysterious port calls?

A: We don't know what kind of cargo those ships were carrying, but, judging from eyewitness reports, it seems to have been very heavy. And the official explanation that the ships had to seek shelter from bad weather in the Bay of Bengal is not credible. I checked all relevant weather reports during, before and after the North Korean ships arrived in Burma, and the weather was fine. The fact that the authorities feel compelled to lie about this indicated that they've got something to hide. The ships could have carried heavy weaponry, some kind of machinery or something else. We just don't know.

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COMMENTS (7)

Moe Aung Wrote:

19/06/2009

Eric,

Russia is already known to be helping the junta build nuclear reactors at Magwe. This shouldn't surprise anyone. The nuclear club may blackball the rest of the world but why would anyone follow their rules—one rule for them, another for the rest of us?

It's only logical that unless you have nuclear capability yourself you are very likely to be bullied by the nuclear powers. If Pakistan and North Korea have it, why not Burma or Papua New Guinea? Whether you can afford it or not is beside the point. India is a nuclear power with unparalleled poverty on full display, and it's a disgrace when your people can never stop worrying about where the next meal is coming from.

The junta is like the proverbial dog that's wandered into a roll of bamboo mat. They can't back out, and would only try and push their way forward.

Naypyidaw will be the generals' last stand against the peoples of Burma, not the US.

Yes, we should find a way to seal those tunnels once they've bolted into them.

Aung Thwin Wrote:

18/06/2009

The US has its own nuclear weapon, and what about Burma? Burma has the right to have her own, too. Why we are trying to control other countries? Leave them alone. They have their own decision. Think about Section 8, food stamp, and welfare people in America.

Natkalay Wrote:

17/06/2009

So it comes as no surprise. This latest plan is in fact complete withdrawal of the empty promises and fabrications they’ve made all over. It is an act of conceding and a signal of denying the truth. In other words, it is a fear of correctness. Shunning way is spurious and conspiratorial. With its own inferiority, they became permanent enemy of the state. Why? Because, they are brain-injured soldiers. All that they were doing is implanting fears among people and taking abuse of other’s disciplinarian values. Sprouted by vented mentality, the country they are governing is going to the dogs and producing sufferings in all forms. They have no solution for what they've done. Cowards always hide themselves when problems surface, but still want to stab from behind. No therapy for this kind of sickness.

KKK Wrote:

17/06/2009

They (the junta) cannot escape by building tunnels. They have no place to hide.

SY Alam Wrote:

17/06/2009

We are not concerned at all because North Korea is digging a graveyard for the SPDC generals. Very soon those tunnels are going to be their graveyard. Saddam Hussein tried to hide in a cave but he could not hide from a crime he committed on his people. Now is time for Than Shwe. You can run but you can not hide.

Min Myo Naing Wrote:

17/06/2009

Three years ago I saw a North Korean ship with my own eyes at a container yard in Rangoon Port where I went along with a friend of mine who was a supervisor of a certain company. He had to take delivery of merchandise arrived from abroad. I asked him about the vessel moored alongside a big pontoon and he said according to his knowledge it was a Korean ship loading rice. But I felt doubt about the ship because two days before I arrived at the port I was aware of unusual things which went on in the area of that very port. Covered military logistical vehicles passed by a friend's apartment that was close to the port. It was a great opportunity for me to stay overnight at my friend's apartment and witness the military authorities' secret transfer of heavy things from the ship to somewhere I could not figure out. The continuous noise of vehicles woke me up and when I looked through the window I saw the military vehicles were moving in the dark in the wee small hours.

Eric Johnston Wrote:

17/06/2009

Many Tatmadaw officers have been and are being trained in Russia, and the subjects of their studies are nuclear technology, rocket technology and tunnelling. Together these subjects look more ominous than any one subject alone.

The democratic movement should study how to seal tunnels once the generals have bolted into their holes.